CompTIA PenTest+

CompTIA PenTest+ is for cybersecurity professionals tasked with penetration testing and vulnerability management.

CompTIA PenTest+ coming in Q3 2018!

Why is it different?

CompTIA PenTest+ is the only penetration testing exam taken at a Pearson VUE testing
center with both hands-on, performance-based questions and multiple-choice, to ensure
each candidate possesses the skills, knowledge, and ability to perform tasks on systems. PenTest+ exam also includes management skills used to plan, scope, and manage weaknesses, not just exploit them.

PenTest+ is unique because our certification requires a candidate to demonstrate the hands-on ability and knowledge to test devices in new environments such as the cloud and mobile, in addition to traditional desktops and servers.

About the exam

The beta exam has ended.
If you took the CompTIA PenTest+ certification beta exam, thank you! You will be receiving an email from Certmetrics in the near future which will contain important information and detailed instructions regarding how to download your PDF beta score report.

CompTIA PenTest+ assesses the most up-to-date penetration testing, and vulnerability assessment and management skills necessary to determine the resiliency of the network against attacks.

Successful candidates will have the intermediate skills required to customize assessment frameworks to effectively collaborate on and report findings.

Candidates will also have the best practices to communicate recommended strategies to improve the overall state of IT security.

CompTIA Certification Pathway

CompTIA PenTest+ joins CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) at the intermediate-skills level of the cybersecurity career pathway as shown below. Depending on your course of study, PenTest+ and CySA+ can be taken in any order but typically follows the skills learned in Security+. While CySA+ focuses on defense through incident detection and response, PenTest+ focuses on offense through penetration testing and vulnerability assessment.

Although the two exams teach opposing skills, they are dependent on one another. The most qualified cybersecurity professionals have both offensive and defensive skills. Earn the PenTest+ certification to grow your career within the CompTIA recommended cybersecurity career pathway.

What Skills Will You Learn?

PLANNING & SCOPING

Explain the importance of planning and key aspects of compliance-based assessments

INFORMATION GATHERING & VULNERABILITY IDENTIFICATION

Gather information to prepare for exploitation then perform a vulnerability scan and analyze results.

Vulnerability Tester

Security Analyst (II)

Vulnerability Assessment Analyst

Network Security Operations

Application Security Vulnerability

Exam Details

The CompTIA PenTest+ certification verifies that successful candidates have the knowledge and skills required to plan and scope an assessment, understand legal and compliance requirements, perform vulnerability scanning and penetration testing, analyze data, and effectively report and communicate results.

Number of Questions

TBD

Type of Questions

Performance-based and multiple choice

Length of Test

TBD

Passing Score

​TBD (on a scale of 100-900)

Recommended Experience

Network+, Security+ or equivalent knowledge. Minimum of 3-4 years of hands-on information security or related experience. While there is no required prerequisite, PenTest+ is intended to follow CompTIA Security+ or equivalent experience and has a technical, hands-on focus.